I have three very good reasons to visit New York City (and two equally good ones to visit DC) at least once a year. If I’m extraordinarily lucky, I get there more than once. And every time I’m in Manhattan, I think about leaving—but just for the better part of a day. I want to […]
Tagged Arthur Avenue, Little Italy, Mr LeeNew Orleans is not all fun and games. It’s serious business. And it requires paper, pencil, and plane math. Begin by making a list of everything you intend to eat. It’s best to do this on the airplane, when hunger is most acute. Next, divide the items on the list by the number of days […]
Tagged cannoli, mint julep, muffaletta, New Orleans, oysters, po'boyQueenies come from all walks of life. Some love to shop. Some live to rule. Others take leisure. And some like to cook—and eat (mostly eat). This is a story about the latter. I blame my parents. They like to eat. It’s not completely their fault, though. They were born and raised in New Orleans, […]
Tagged Cuisine Queenies, Dad, New Orleans, quenellesRod’s Steak House has been a fixture on historic Route 66 since 1946. But I never knew that. In fact we (Mr. Lee and me) happened upon it quite by accident only a few weeks ago, while driving through Williams. Don’t ask what we were doing in Williams, a little-known town whose only claim to fame is […]
Tagged cemetery, Mr Lee, Rod's Steak HouseEverybody has a state flower and a state bird. For Louisiana those are the magnolia and the brown pelican. Their official musical instrument, I’m pleased to report, is the “Cajun” accordion. (I admit a fondness for accordions of all sorts since I appointed one an important character in a hopefully-soon-to-be-completed novel.) If you know any […]
Tagged absinthe, Antoine Peychaud, cocktail, French Quarter, Louisiana, Napoleon House, New Orleans, sazeracA vegetable gardener dreams that her 52-square-foot garden will provide all the produce necessary for her family of two. In truth, the vegetable gardener must be realistic. She will end up with much more zucchini than is needed and far fewer beans. She’ll battle aphids and scale and grubs, and watch the glorious tomatoes she’s […]
Tagged vegetable gardenIt’s been more than twenty-five years and two major moves since I grew a squash. But I seem to remember it being mid-August before I’d find myself scavenging for zucchini recipes. Not so this year. I’ve been shredding, baking, scooping, stuffing and eating zucchini for days. I attribute it to Jerry’s magic manure. […]
Tagged manure, vegetable garden, zucchini